First selectman: New Canaan sees most COVID cases in one week

https://www.ncadvertiser.com/news/coronavirus/article/First-selectman-New-Canaan-sees-most-COVID-cases-15803114.php

John Kovach

Dec. 15, 2020Updated: Dec. 15, 2020 11:37 a.m.

NEW CANAAN — The town saw its highest single-week total of COVID-19 cases that First Selectman Kevin Moynihan said was likely attributed to the Thanksgiving holiday.

That was “not unexpected due to the timing after Thanksgiving gatherings,” he said.

           “We had bumps after every holiday — July 4, Labor Day, etc.,” Moynihan wrote in an email Tuesday. “Not surprising to see Thanksgiving bump with all the travel and family gatherings and college kids coming home.”                

Another 41 positive tests for COVID 19 were recorded among New Canaan residents between Thursday and Monday. The cases span all age demographics, Moynihan said in an update, but most of them are college-aged young adults and middle-aged adults.

“We have been seeing very few seniors over the age of 65 test positive in the last few weeks,” Moynihan said.

The state Department of Public Health reports a seven-day positivity rate of 4.65 percent as of Monday for New Canaan. The rolling average of all of Connecticut is 6.97 percent for that same period.

During Tuesday morning’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting, Moynihan said that while he hoped it would not happen, states in the region could be heading toward shutdowns if there are spikes that follow Christmas.

The New Canaan YMCA announced late Monday that a participant in one of its programs has tested positive. The person was last at the YMCA on Saturday and the program had used the Wagner Room at Group Exercise Center.

Participants in the person’s program have been directed to self-quarantine and will not be using the YMCA for at least 14 days, according to a notice from the Y. Questions about the case and cleaning at the facility can be directed to the YMCA at 203-966-4528.

The first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine began arriving in Connecticut Monday. Waveny LifeCare Network CEO Russell Barksdale Jr. said Monday that the vaccine is scheduled to arrive at Waveny on Dec. 21.

Waveny and the town are continuing to offer tests, by appointment only, at Lapham Community Center. The 41 cases reported Thursday through Monday included 15 people who tested positive at Lapham, of 161 who were tested.

PCR nasal swab testing is available at Lapham Center Monday through Saturday, 7 to 10 a.m. Registration is required. To register, click on red COVID-19 information box at newcanaan.info.

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